Some pics of Stepho

Steph clowning around ;)

Steph with John.

Steph with Uncle David :)

I'm Free

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free.
I'm following the path God laid out for me.
I took God's hand when I heard the call;
I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way,
I found that place at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss.
Ah yes, these things, I too, will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow,
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much,
Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief;
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me-
God wanted me now, God set me free.

-- Unknown Author

The Light Will Lead Us...

As this day passes, its hard to imagine having lost such a sweet and happy loved one.

This was the day, three years ago, Our Lord chose to invite Our Stephanie to the Kingdom of Heaven. We believe this, as this is our faith. It is still hard to accept that her physical being is gone from our day to day but its wonderful to know her spiritual being will always be. As difficult as it is to not miss her, we have accepted her union with God. We allow her to follow the Light in doing so. This will set her free from worrying about us and help us accept that we Will be reunited in our Spiritual Life someday as it is what has been Promised to us here on earth.

We are truly never separated. When you have a glimpse at a beautifully blooming flower, know she too is viewing it. When we are walking and feeling the light breeze of this autumn day, know she is walking by your side. When you return a smile at a kind face, know she too feels that caring. Love never separates. The Light is Love. Love and you will have the Light forever.

We all continue to love and miss you Steph... keep checking us out. We are getting better at this sweetheart.

Our First Recepient Cristine's Letter to the Family

Christine Rivas

July 9, 2008

Hello Stephanie's Family,

I was re-reading your letter to me and couldn't help to think of Stephanie and I wanted to share something about myself with you. See Stephanie and I have more in common than our love for the fine arts. See I too struggled with a disability that affected everything I did and wanted to do including school. As a young child I struggled with a developmental disability that affected my language development. The struggles were many, but as I look back at my experience I know without them I wouldn't be who I am today.

I am so excited about the upcoming experiences I will soon have in college. I've registered for my fall classes and I am currently working as a lifeguard in lower Manhattan- Dry Dock Pool - E. 10th Street and Avenue D. My mother is working towards making me my own studio apartment in our basement to allow me to experience being on my own - well sort of - as I will really be living safe at home. Considering I am her only child and I too was raise in a single parent household I know my mother is just looking out for me while giving me some freedom to grow. She feels I need a space on my own where I can invite friends over to study or study quietly on my own. When my basement project is complete I will have a living room and my very own office/study room. I plan on displaying Stephanie's Certificate in my study room to always remind me regardless of future life struggles always follow my dreams. In addition, I will have a collage of pictures of people in my life that are important to me, that have encouraged me and supported me - my family and friends, so I do have a request, I was wondering can you email a picture of Stephanie although we never met, I feel considering we have so much in common - we could have been friends.

I once again would like to thank you for this award and wanted to reassure you that I will not give up and will continue to reach for the stars.

Christine

Kinder Picture

Steph's School Year/Graduation Pictures

Our Little "Ojitos De Estrella"

One of her first plays in elementary school

Canarsie, Brooklyn

Stepho always liked cuddling up with stuffed animals.

Including little Simba doll given to her as a gift.

Smiling and grateful for gifts.

And, always ready to pose with that perfect smile.

The Big Day! Friday, May 23, 2008

This year would of been Stephanie's graduating year from high school. In her honor, we created a scholarship in her name.

On May 23, 2008, the first scholarship in Stephanie's name was granted to Christine Rivas graduating candidate of Grover Cleveland High School class of 2008 in Ridgewood, Queens-New York. The scholarship was granted for Christine's involvement and invested interest in the arts.

Selecting Christine for the scholarship was unconventional and very easy. As members of the audience at the school's Awards Ceremony the week prior, we noticed Christine quickly. Christine stood out with her numerous awards in music and drama. She was also seen singing with the school's choir. All of which Stephanie was passionate about. Christine displayed pure talent and love for the arts. Good reason for her to be a perfect recepient.


Unfortunately, the scholarship was not created until after the awards ceremony but given to her with great pride in the college office with Ms. R. Sternlieb, the school's college advisor, and Ms. Sabrina Burgos, Stephanie's sister, as the presenter of the award. There are no pictures but here is the letter presented to Christine below.


Christine agreed to maintain contact with the family on a regular basis which were the only terms in which she will continue to receive the scholarship for her four years of college.


Thank you Christine for living Stephanie's dream.

Stephanie, thank you for continuing to live in our hearts. Because of you, we are able to help someone else who wants to live your dreams.

LETTER ADDRESSED TO CHRISTINE RIVAS:

May 23, 2008

Dear Christine Rivas,

We want to award you with our first scholarship of $500 honoring our granddaughter, daughter, sister and niece, Stephanie Marie Burgos.

Stephanie Marie Burgos was born on March 1, 1989 in Brooklyn, New York, to a single parent household. Stephanie was raised with two older sisters and younger brother in the Canarsie area of Brooklyn, where she attended the New York City public school system up to the 7th grade. She moved to Durham, North Carolina, where her mother sought a better life for herself and her children. Despite the change, her academic experience was always a challenge met with much struggle as she suffered from a learning disability that impeded on her school performance. Stephanie’s talent was not reading and writing but in the area of the fine arts. Her passion for singing, dancing and piano playing led her to perform at school and home. We remember her roles in school performances and her frequent spontaneous singing during family reunions. She was a natural born star waiting for the opportunity to shine.

On September 15, 2005, we lost Stephanie Marie to a tragic car accident in Durham, North Carolina. That very morning, her grandmother remembers her walking out from her home with an art project which she so diligently worked on the night before. Stephanie’s death was a tragic unexpected moment that has weighed heavily on all our hearts.

The pain of losing our sweet, loving and charismatic Stephanie is hard, but we know our star continues to shine above. This scholarship was created in her honor. We know she would want us to support someone like herself in their dreams to pursue a career in the fine arts. Knowing Stephanie, she is probably smiling down happy to see that the recipient of this scholarship is fulfilling the dreams that were once hers. It would be an honor to give you the scholarship for the next four years with the condition that you provide written updates on your academic and career pursuits.

Stephanie always spoke her mind and never backed down from a difficult situation nor was ever easily defeated. She was proud of who she was and dreamt what most would believe to be the impossible.

Please keep reaching for those stars and never give up. Congratulations on your receipt of this award and on your graduation from Grover Cleveland High School!

Sincerely,
Stephanie’s family